You know, there's something special when grown-ups can connect with young people in a positive way. That's what Bern Nadette Stanis did today when she spoke to the drama class at Hillside High School in Durham, NC. I arranged to have her speak there because of my admiration and respect for their drama teacher Wendell Tabb.
Even before we could get inside the school a student spotted her from a distance and started yelling "Thelma! Thelma!" How she could see that far away is beyond me. Before I knew it we we swarmed by excited teenagers. These are teens who weren't even born when Good Times was on the air! Still, they were starry-eyed and anxious to get up close and personal with someone they've seen on the TV Land re-runs.
The crowd became so large at one point, sheriff's deputies had to be called in because they thought there was a big gang fight going on! Once they realized it was Thelma they, too, became star struck and starting pulling out camera phones to get a picture.
For more than an hour, the students sat attentively as Bern Nadette told them about her journey in the world of acting. She even did an improvisation with some of the students.
Watching Bern Nadette in action today makes me honored to have her as a member of Boomer Diva Nation. Our motto is: Women on the Move and Making a Difference---and that she certainly did!
NOW HERE'S THE REST OF MY DAY.......
9am: Phone rings. I'm dead asleep. It's Bern Nadette's Publicist, Sheila. She asks me if I'm coming to pick her up from the airport (she missed her flight yesterday). I'm not sure what I mumbled, however, she decided it would be best if she took the shuttle and allowed me to get some more sleep. Bless her heart!
10:00am: Get dressed to go to the airport to pick up Dr. Stan Fine (author of Business Boot Camp for Women) and his wife, Bethany. I had trouble finding him but there was no way he could miss me with my Diva green jacket on. We went to lunch at Quiznos.
12:15pm: Picked up Bern Nadette to go to Hillside H.S.
3pm: We had lunch at Blue Coffee Cafe---yes, I had two lunches :)
4:30pm: Picked up Debbie Zipp from the airport
Friday: 6:32pm EST
I'm finally home after spending ALL DAY on the road here and there and everywhere. After dropping Thelma--I mean Bern Nadette--off at the hotel last night, I went home and continued making final preparations for Saturday's Business Boot Camp for Women's Event. I didn't get to bed until about 3am.
working.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way from the Airport
I GOT LOST!!!
What was supposed to be a ten minute ride from the RDU airport to the hotel ended up being more than 30 minutes. I even had to stop at a gas station to ask someone for directions and I STILL GOT LOST.
Why did this happen? Because I was looking to cut down on expenses for my Business Boot Camp for Women Event. Here's the deal: Instead of hiring a limousine service to pick up my celebrity guests for this weekend's Business Boot Camp for Women Event, I decided to save on expenses and become the "celebrity chauffeur."
First guest to arrive is Bern Nadette Stanis. Most people know her as "Thelma" from the 70s hit TV show Good Times. She had to fly from Los Angeles to Atlanta and then to Raleigh-Durham. She was up at the crack of dawn to get here. The plane was about 30 minutes late. So instead of getting here BEFORE 11pm--she arrived closer to 11:45.
I waited patiently to see her come down the escalator. But instead of being one of the first off the plane, she was practically last. That's because we Baby Boomer Divas need to make a grand entrance--and that she did with her dark sunglasses on and bright pink luggage.
It was good to see her again. The last time was in Daytona Beach back in April. She still looks fabulous!
Now it's my job to get her to the hotel. You would think that someone who has lived in this area for more than 20 years would know how to get from point A to point B, but not me.
During this confusion, I learned something interesting about Bern Nadette. She's afraid of the dark---and let me tell you it was pitch black on some of those streets I was traveling on.
But we finally made it after I decided to use my house as my starting point :)
Be sure to stay tuned to this blog to find out more about the behind the scenes stories of my Business Boot Camp for Women Event.
What was supposed to be a ten minute ride from the RDU airport to the hotel ended up being more than 30 minutes. I even had to stop at a gas station to ask someone for directions and I STILL GOT LOST.
Why did this happen? Because I was looking to cut down on expenses for my Business Boot Camp for Women Event. Here's the deal: Instead of hiring a limousine service to pick up my celebrity guests for this weekend's Business Boot Camp for Women Event, I decided to save on expenses and become the "celebrity chauffeur."
First guest to arrive is Bern Nadette Stanis. Most people know her as "Thelma" from the 70s hit TV show Good Times. She had to fly from Los Angeles to Atlanta and then to Raleigh-Durham. She was up at the crack of dawn to get here. The plane was about 30 minutes late. So instead of getting here BEFORE 11pm--she arrived closer to 11:45.
I waited patiently to see her come down the escalator. But instead of being one of the first off the plane, she was practically last. That's because we Baby Boomer Divas need to make a grand entrance--and that she did with her dark sunglasses on and bright pink luggage.
It was good to see her again. The last time was in Daytona Beach back in April. She still looks fabulous!
Now it's my job to get her to the hotel. You would think that someone who has lived in this area for more than 20 years would know how to get from point A to point B, but not me.
During this confusion, I learned something interesting about Bern Nadette. She's afraid of the dark---and let me tell you it was pitch black on some of those streets I was traveling on.
But we finally made it after I decided to use my house as my starting point :)
Be sure to stay tuned to this blog to find out more about the behind the scenes stories of my Business Boot Camp for Women Event.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
What a Difference College Life Makes
It's funny how college can change the relationship between a parent and child. It certainly has changed mine.
Since my daughter went away to school, we talk EVERYDAY. She calls up and says the same thing:
"Whatcha doin'?"
My standard response is, "On the computer."
Then she says, "Guess what?"...and proceeds to tell me a story about something that happened in one of her classes or on the campus.
It's so funny because when we were living in the same house,there were times when we would go without speaking for days. Menopause and PMS ruled our worlds!
But now it seems there is less stress and anxiety to deal with. We're getting along very nicely from a distance. The truth of the matter is, I believe we have come to a point where we are really learning to respect each other. My daughter is finally starting to see there has been a method to my "You better get your butt in gear!" madness for the past four years. I, meanwhile, am seeing a caterpillar begin to break out into a beautiful butterfly.
Yeah, both of us are still a little rough around the edges with even more growing to do----but we now know we have a purpose----and it's a little boy named Jarod.
Since my daughter went away to school, we talk EVERYDAY. She calls up and says the same thing:
"Whatcha doin'?"
My standard response is, "On the computer."
Then she says, "Guess what?"...and proceeds to tell me a story about something that happened in one of her classes or on the campus.
It's so funny because when we were living in the same house,there were times when we would go without speaking for days. Menopause and PMS ruled our worlds!
But now it seems there is less stress and anxiety to deal with. We're getting along very nicely from a distance. The truth of the matter is, I believe we have come to a point where we are really learning to respect each other. My daughter is finally starting to see there has been a method to my "You better get your butt in gear!" madness for the past four years. I, meanwhile, am seeing a caterpillar begin to break out into a beautiful butterfly.
Yeah, both of us are still a little rough around the edges with even more growing to do----but we now know we have a purpose----and it's a little boy named Jarod.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Aids & College Students
Why is it that some people never give a second thought to diseases like cancer or aids until it hits home?
Aids came up on my radar this morning when my daughter called from college to tell me some shocking news. Apparently there is information circulating on her campus that two-thirds of the students who tested for aids/HIV recently found out they were positive.
Granted, the number of students tested was low—a little over 100—in comparison to the student enrollment of more than 11,000---but what raises a more serious question for me, as a parent, is why does aids still seem out of control---especially for young African-Americans? Where is the education? Why have we failed in stressing the point about the fatal results of aids?
I did some research and found these startling facts. North Carolina, the state where my daughter goes to school, ranks in the Top Ten of NEW aids/HIV cases.
As of 2006, these were the reported numbers of new aids cases:
Ages 15-19, 5626
Ages 20-24, 36,225
Ages 25-29, 117,099
Ages 30-34, 197,530
Ages 35-39 213,573
When I mentioned this news on Twitter, one of my followers suggested I remove my daughter from the school. I have a better idea. Make it mandatory for EVERY prospective student take an Aids/HIV test before being allowed to be admitted.
What do you think needs to be done to stop this ever-increasing epidemic?
Aids came up on my radar this morning when my daughter called from college to tell me some shocking news. Apparently there is information circulating on her campus that two-thirds of the students who tested for aids/HIV recently found out they were positive.
Granted, the number of students tested was low—a little over 100—in comparison to the student enrollment of more than 11,000---but what raises a more serious question for me, as a parent, is why does aids still seem out of control---especially for young African-Americans? Where is the education? Why have we failed in stressing the point about the fatal results of aids?
I did some research and found these startling facts. North Carolina, the state where my daughter goes to school, ranks in the Top Ten of NEW aids/HIV cases.
As of 2006, these were the reported numbers of new aids cases:
Ages 15-19, 5626
Ages 20-24, 36,225
Ages 25-29, 117,099
Ages 30-34, 197,530
Ages 35-39 213,573
When I mentioned this news on Twitter, one of my followers suggested I remove my daughter from the school. I have a better idea. Make it mandatory for EVERY prospective student take an Aids/HIV test before being allowed to be admitted.
What do you think needs to be done to stop this ever-increasing epidemic?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How to Stay Young
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Make that laughter bring you to tears.
6. Learn how to cry sometimes: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to another county---but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Make that laughter bring you to tears.
6. Learn how to cry sometimes: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to another county---but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Like Mother, Like Daughter
It happens in many mother-daughter relationships. Sooner or later, you're going to realize you've turned into your mother. I vowed early in life that I would never, ever be like my mom but, for some reason, it just got passed on in the genes.
I discovered my "I'm just like my mother" behavior when I became a parent. I found myself acting like her in terms of how I disciplined my child and dealt with her peers. My mother was a no-nonsense kind of woman. You clearly understood your boundaries as a child. There was no "I'm your mother and your friend" relationship." I wasn't allowed to associate with certain children because my mother knew their parents and if she didn't know the parents, she had to know them FIRST before I was given permission to associate with their children.
So what prompted me to write this today? A phone call from my college daughter. She told me about an encounter she had with one of her Instructors. As she told me the story of how she challenged her, I smiled as I reflected on a few of my own challenges at Ohio University. I thought to myself, "dear, this is just the beginning."
Then she said something that sounded so familiar, "I can't believe it...I'm turning into you!"
Well, maybe that gene pool wasn't so bad after all :)
I discovered my "I'm just like my mother" behavior when I became a parent. I found myself acting like her in terms of how I disciplined my child and dealt with her peers. My mother was a no-nonsense kind of woman. You clearly understood your boundaries as a child. There was no "I'm your mother and your friend" relationship." I wasn't allowed to associate with certain children because my mother knew their parents and if she didn't know the parents, she had to know them FIRST before I was given permission to associate with their children.
So what prompted me to write this today? A phone call from my college daughter. She told me about an encounter she had with one of her Instructors. As she told me the story of how she challenged her, I smiled as I reflected on a few of my own challenges at Ohio University. I thought to myself, "dear, this is just the beginning."
Then she said something that sounded so familiar, "I can't believe it...I'm turning into you!"
Well, maybe that gene pool wasn't so bad after all :)
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Happy Grandparents Day
I am a baby boomer. I am also a grandmother. Today has been designated as a special day for me and millions of others who walk in similar shoes. This is Grandparents’ Day
Grandparent's Day is celebrated in September, on the first Sunday following Labor Day. The idea to create the special day was originated by a woman named Marian McQuade. The West Virginia homemaker and mother of 15 children believed there should be a day to celebrate and honor the lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to encourage grandchildren to inherit the wisdom and heritage from their grandparents.
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made it a national holiday. National Grandparents Day was first celebrated on Sunday, September 9, 1979.
Some Grandparent facts:
According to the Census Bureau, there are 6.1 million grandparents who have children under 18-years-old living with them. I am a part of that statistic.
Thirty percent of all children are cared for by grandparents whose parents work outside the home.
The average age of a boomer grandparent is 53.4 years old.
Data shows nearly 40 percent of boomers are grandparents. In real numbers, that translates to roughly 30 million.
More than three-quarters (76.5 percent) of boomer grandparents own their homes, and 46.4 percent generate more than $50,000 in household income.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re a grandparent, Happy Grandparents Day and may God continue to give you the strength to persevere.
Grandparent's Day is celebrated in September, on the first Sunday following Labor Day. The idea to create the special day was originated by a woman named Marian McQuade. The West Virginia homemaker and mother of 15 children believed there should be a day to celebrate and honor the lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to encourage grandchildren to inherit the wisdom and heritage from their grandparents.
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made it a national holiday. National Grandparents Day was first celebrated on Sunday, September 9, 1979.
Some Grandparent facts:
According to the Census Bureau, there are 6.1 million grandparents who have children under 18-years-old living with them. I am a part of that statistic.
Thirty percent of all children are cared for by grandparents whose parents work outside the home.
The average age of a boomer grandparent is 53.4 years old.
Data shows nearly 40 percent of boomers are grandparents. In real numbers, that translates to roughly 30 million.
More than three-quarters (76.5 percent) of boomer grandparents own their homes, and 46.4 percent generate more than $50,000 in household income.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re a grandparent, Happy Grandparents Day and may God continue to give you the strength to persevere.
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Passing the Torch from Baby Boomers to Millennials to Gen Z
Whether baby boomers can accept it or not, a changing of the guard has taken place with millennials and the up and coming Gen Z generations...
